James was employed by Sir Michael Miller and married Isabella. Sir Michael was incensed that his daughter married beneath her station (she was a descendant of the Stuarts, legend has it) and so she was disowned. She and James escaped to the Isle of Mann for some seven years and then sailed for the colonies. First came to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania then moved to North Carolina.
Isabella Miller was a sister to David Miller, married James McEwen 3rd son of David McEwen. They had four sons and three daughters. One Married a Gen. Dickson another a Mr. McKnight and Mr. Andrews. All except Andrews agreed with Gen. Dickson to sell out and move to Tennessee and settle his lands. they reached Nashville (French Lick) in 1795. Isabella died in 1820. Rutherford Co. Mother and father in Scotland disinherited her in part because of her clandestine marriage and marrying beneath her station leaving all to brother David Miller. David never married, dying September 15, 1815 and left all to Isabella and her descendants anywhere in America or whatever part of world they could be found. The estate was estimated at 3,000,000 pounds sterling. No beneficiaries were found, at least in a timely manner, and so the estate reverted to England by an act of Parliament passed in 1850 providing all demands to estates in Great Britian barred after December 31, 1880. Some years later an American solicitor named Joseph B. Campbell was paid to investigate the will, but he returned from England empty handed. Some say he was paid off as he built a fine house when came home.
The old mill is still in operation and rentals have been paid to the government for over 60 years. An act of parliament passed in 1850 providing all claims to estates in Great Britain barred after December 31, 1880.
